Physical Education

The physical education consultant provides professional development, technical assistance and resources to schools for the development and implementation of standards-based curricula, instruction and assessment. Physical education curricular materials are available for loan through the Health Education Resource Center (HERC) located at the Agency of Education.

The goal of physical education is to develop physically literate individuals who have the knowledge, skills and self-efficacy to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity. Physical education provides regular moderate to vigorous exercise for students through a variety of skill development, sports, games and lifetime physical activities. Graduates of an exemplary, sequential physical education program will be able to evaluate their own physical fitness, set goals, and use their physical activity knowledge and skills to maintain a health-enhancing, physically active lifestyle.

Curriculum and assessment in this content area is to be based on the Physical Education Grade Expectations (see documents below) which are divided into four areas of learning: knowledge/motor skills, physical fitness, affective qualities and social interaction. The Physical Education Grade Expectations are more specific statements of the Vermont standards in Vermont Framework of Standards & Learning Opportunities. These learning outcomes are organized by grade clusters (pre-K and K; 1 and 2, 3 and 4; 5 and 6; 7 and 8; and 9-12). The purpose of using grade clusters is to provide additional flexibility for alignment of local curriculum and local comprehensive assessment systems.

This list of frequently asked questions and answers, was created
to clarify the legal requirements and outline best practices for
adapted physical education (APE). Professionals who attended the
workshop will apply knowledge and skills to design and implement
an APE program improvement plan in their school or district. If
you would like to connect with one of these individuals, please
reach out to Lindsay.

A grade expectation (GE) is a stated objective that relates
directly to a Vermont standard and associated evidences. A GE
differentiates performance on content knowledge or skills between
adjacent grade levels and describes clearly what students will do
to show that they understand a designated concept. As a set, GEs
lead to focused, coherent and developmentally appropriate
instruction without narrowing the curriculum and are used for
local curriculum and assessment development. The GEs also are
offered in the following formats:

Physical Education Grade
Expectations by Content & Grade Cluster

Based on feedback from the field, the Vermont Grade
Expectations for Physical Education are offered below in two
additional formats. All content is the same as was published in
the 2004 document. GEs arranged by content show skill,
knowledge and attitude progression from PreK through grade 12.
The second version shows all the grade expectations that are to
be addressed and assessed at each grade cluster.

The National Content Standards publications define what a student
should know and be able to do as result of a quality physical
education program. States and local school districts across the
country use the National Standards to develop or revise existing
standards, frameworks and curricula.